It took a long time coming, but young football enthusiasts finally have reason to cheer with the much-ignored Cooperage football stadium being sanctioned a facelift last year. A beneficiary of FIFA's 'Win in India with India' programme, which has sponsored artificial turfs for eight stadiums in the country, Cooperage's new avatar has opened a whole new world to kids chasing football dreams.
The lack of quality football grounds has for long been the story of the sport in the city, often nipping talent in the bud. But with Cooperage's renovation almost complete, that is set to change. The laying of the state-of-the-art turf, which was completed in November, means a better platform for children playing the sport to showcase their talents.
Giving further fillip to the developments was the announcement by English Premier League giants, and arguably the most widely followed football team in the world, Manchester United, that it will open a branch of the Manchester United Soccer School (MUSS) at the ground in affiliation with the Western India Football Association (WIFA). The soccer school will give kids aged eight to 18 the chance to train with some of the best coaches in the world and learn football the United way.
Terming the move as one that would change the dynamics of football for kids in the city, Henry Menezes, CEO of WIFA, said that the new Cooperage will be part of every child's life. "Coming to Cooperage will now be an experience for children who kept away from the stadium because of its condition before the renovation. Even kids coming to watch football games will develop aspirations to play the sport looking at the facilities," said Menezes.
By bringing Manchester United on board, Menezes felt children will have a connection to an icon. "We lack icons in our country and by getting United to Cooperage that's going to change. While the training school may be a self-sustained programme, WIFA will hand 100 deserving children scholarships to be part of the MUSS clinics. Two of the MUSS coaches will be here through the year."
Once the stadium is complete, WIFA will conduct competitive games of the local league which will give semi-professional players a chance to play on the world-class pitch. "We will offer the ground to kids, organize seminars and clinics. The idea is to make the facilities at Cooperage a ladder for kids to chase their dreams," he said.
A big positive with artificial turf is that monsoons, however harsh, wouldn't be an impediment and football can be played all through the year.
Sherley Singh, who runs the Indian Tigers' Football Academy, said, "Football grounds are virtually non-existent in our city. The BMC grounds are uneven, have stones and the pitches are in a bad condition. The biggest challenge is to get a good ground and the turf at Cooperage is a blessing. At least somebody has understood what the younger generation needs."
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